WhatsApp for Windows Phone updated with WP8 support

WhatsApp for Windows Phone has been through some turmoil — updated, removed, updated again but not with WP8 support — but now it seems to be safely stowed with its seatbelt fastened. The latest update introduces true Windows Phone 8 support, complete with lock screen notifications, a larger and cleaner live tile design, and an improved overall layout.

Considering Windows Phone doesn’t seem to be getting love from Kik, and there are precious few reliable (and well-maintained) Google Talk clients, WhatsApp seems to be the best way to communicate with other smartphone users across platforms.

Unfortunately, due to WhatsApp’s insistence on maintaining a universal version between WP7 and WP8, the app uses the system’s audio API to maintain a connection to the internet when WiFi is enabled and the screen is off. This results in excessive battery drain, which could be prevented if the company decided to part out the two versions. Nevertheless, this is a great app and, along with recent updates to Android, proves that it the team is getting its act together when it comes to design.

This updated app is terrible, WP8 users do NOT update this app yet. It crashes and hangs sometime. You get the lock screen notifications but its not worth it with all the bugs

jplunks

I stand corrected. This is the update to the update. Its a go. But I would liken to see the ability to send your own video that are already on the phone

Happyboy

What’s app sucks and windows sucks

Josh

Why?

Michael

Thanks for promoting WP apps for WP users on the site, vevry platform no matter how big or small has fans.

glonq

As a developer, I appreciate why they chose to maintain a universal WP7/WP8 version. The returns on WP development are so terribly low compared to iOS and Android that it’s barely worth doing. So the extra overhead of keeping *two* WP versions would just be ridiculous.